“Do I mean Joe Carstairs’ grandmother, boy? I didn’t say savage; I said salvage—saving of the ship from pirates.”
“Oh, I see what you mean,” replied Jack. “I sha’n’t bring in any claim. I knew that Malay chap wasn’t doing right, and stopped him, that’s all.”
“Well, we won’t say any more about stowing away, then,” said the captain. “Had plenty to eat this morning?”
“Oh yes, I’m better now,” drawled Jack. “I was real bad yesterday, and never felt so hollow before.”
The captain nodded and went back, while Jack turned to me, and nodding his head said slowly:
“I like the captain. Now let’s go and see how your black fellow’s head is.”
Jimmy was lying under a bit of awning rigged up with a scrap of the storm-torn sail; and as soon as he saw us his white teeth flashed out in the light.
“Well, Jimmy, how are you?” I said, as Jack Penny stood bending down over him, and swaying gently to and fro as if he had hinges in his back.
“Jimmy better—much better. Got big fly in um head—big bunyip fly. All buzz—buzz—round and round—buzz in um head. Fedge doctor take um out.”
“Here, doctor,” I shouted; and he came up. “Jimmy has got a fly in his head.”